Internal-combustion engine.



C. MAYFIELD.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

. r APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2,1915. 1,1?G,769. Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

\ 1, r I ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

CHAMPION MAYFIELD, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed June 7, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAMPION MAYFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal- Combustion lilngines of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to multiple cylinder internal combustion engines and more especially to that type employing a valve having a port through which the intake and exhaust gases of the associated cylinder, alternately pass. Valves of the type mentioned are desirable because they are more "uniformly heated and cooled, the valves having special ports for the cool or intake gases and other ports for the hot or exhaust gases. Heretofore such valves have been objectionl0 able because of the loss of a small volume of 80 take port when under suction, so that fresh gas pocketed in the valve port shall be drawn back into the intake manifold of the engine, to. form a part of the'charge for the cylinder in which, at such time. the piston 86 is making the suction stroke.

With this object in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed;

and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1, is a vertical section of a part of an engine embodying my invention, the valve being about to establish communication between the cylinder and the intake port. Fig. 2, is a section showing the piston after it has made its suction stroke and the valve 'as it is about to close communication 80 between the intake port and the cylinder.

pressed and ready for ignition with the parts in the position mentioned. Fig. 4, is

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

Serial No. 32,560.

another section showing the piston in the position it attains when ready to make its exhaust stroke, and showing the valve in exhaust position.

As my improvement does not effect or in any way change the organization of parts of a multiple cylinder engine, I have illustrated a single cylinder with the piston and valve thereof in different positions, and have not illustrated the intake or exhaust manifolds of the engine, it being understood that suction produced in any cylinder willl have itscustomary effect in the intake manifold and tend to draw air or gas therein into the cylinder whose piston at such time is making its suction stroke.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 1 indicates a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, 2 the valve casing thereof, 3 the intake port, 4 the exhaust port and 5 an auxiliary port of the valve casing, said casing also having an opening or port 6 through which connnunication is established between the valve casing and the cylinder. 7 is a rotary valve journaled in said casing and provided with a diametric passage or port 8 which is preferably flared at each end.

9 is the piston of the cylinder, 10 the pis ton rod connecting the cylinder with one of the cranks 11 of the engine shaft.

Assuming that the engine is in operation and that the piston is about to make its down stroke on suction and that the valve is turning in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 1, it will be seen that as the pinion starts it tends to create a vacuum in the head end of the cylinder, whereby as the valve turns slightly and opens communication between the intake port and port 6, a charge of combustible gas is drawn through the intake port and the valve port or passage and port or opening 6 into the cylinder. As the piston completes its suction stroke and starts upward on its compression stroke the valve port or passage is about to pass out of communication with port 6 so as to present a solid surface as a closure for opening 6, and before this compression stroke of the piston is ended, the port or passage of the valve has attained a position intermediate between the positionsshown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to establish communication between intake port and the auxiliary port 5, at which time one of the other pistons of the engine is making its suction stroke and thus producing a suction in the intake manifold which draws the gas pocketed in port or passage 8 back through port 3 into the intake manifold, which gas, in conjunction with fresh gas from the carbureter, not shown, enters the cylinder containing the piston making its suction stroke. Preferably just before the compression stroke of the piston is completed, the valve attains the position shown in Fig. 3 and in such position forms a complete closure for port or opening (3, so that as ignition and explosion of the compressed gas takes place, the full force shall be imposed to operate the piston. As this tiring stroke of the piston is completed the valve attains the position shown in Fig. l, so that as the piston again moves upward on its exhaust stroke, the exhaust gases shall be forced through port or opening (3, port or passage 8 of the valve, and the exhaust port 4: to the exhaust manifold, the valve passing out of communication with the exhaust port and attaining its initial position, ,as the piston completes its exhaust stroke and therefore again occupies the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that provision is made for two complete revolutions of the crank shaft to each half revolution of the valve, and that consequently each piston movement is attended by an eighth revolution on the part of the valve. Because of this each end of the valve port or passage alternately forms the receiving end for the cool or fresh gases and the receiving end for the hot or exhaust gases.

From theabove description it will be apparent that I have produced an internal combustion engine of the single port valve type which is economical in its operation in that the gas which is pocketed in the valve port or passage after communication is closed between the intake port and the cylinder is drawn back through the intake port into the intake manifold and hence is not wasted by discharge into the atmosphere, as would result if provision was not made for establishing communication between the intake port and the auxiliary port, as herein-- before explained.

I claim:

In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder ofa communicating valve casing having intake, exhaust and auxiliary ports, of a rotary valve journaled in the casing and provided with a single port for establishing communication successively between the intake port and the cylinder, the intake port and the auxiliary port and the cylinder and the exhaust port.

In testimony whereof, I atfix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHAMPION MAYFIELD.

lVitnesses:

PERCY A. Bow, G. Y. THORPE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

